IIOE organises sensitisation in ABU to foster gender inclusion in AI capacity building
A sensitisation workshop has been organised as part of efforts to foster gender inclusion in Artificial Intelligence (AI) leadership and capacity building.
It took place at Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The sensitisation was organised by the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), Nigeria National Centre, ABU, Zaria.
'Women Leading Change in Africa: Future Higher Education Professionals and Leadership in the Intelligence Era' was the theme of the workshop.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, was delighted to see participants, both in person and virtually, ready to discuss the theme of the workshop.
Represented by the Coordinator, Gender Policy Unit, Prof Rahanatu Lawal, the Vice-Chancellor said ABU had always been at the forefront of innovation and progress.
Prof Ahmed also said it was a source of great pride to see the institution taking the lead in this critical area.
The event, according to him, was more than just a meeting. It was a significant step towards a more equitable future, he said.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence, he further said, was reshaping the world at an incredible pace, saying it was vital that women were not only passive observers but also active leaders and innovators in this space.
Prof Ahmed said by promoting gender inclusion, the university was not just doing what was right, it was also building a stronger, more creative, and more effective AI ecosystem.
In an address of welcome, Dr Nafisa Shehu Usman explained that 'Women Leading Change in Africa' was an initiative of the UNESCO-ICHE's IIOE implemented in Nigeria through the Nigeria National Centre in ABU.
Dr Nafisa, a staff of the Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, said the aim was to ensure that women in higher education were not just users of digital tools but also leaders in the era of artificial intelligence.
According to her, between now and 2027, IIOE planned to reach at least 4,500 participants, with no fewer than 1,500 women directly engaged in training, micro-certifications, and leadership pathways in AI.
She stressed that for 2025 alone, their target was 1,500, with at least 500 women actively engaged.
Nafisa emphasised that the project was more than a programme, as it was a movement towards building an education system, where innovation was inclusive, policies were relevant and no one was left behind.
In a paper presentation, titled 'Digital Skills for the Next Generation of Women Leaders in Nigerian Higher Education', the Chief Executive Officer and Founder, GMIND AI, Dr Success Ojo, maintained that the AI and data analysis were the key digital skills for future leaders.
Dr Ojo said curriculum update to include digital literacy and AI was one of their success stories.
In another presentation titled 'Reimagining Teaching and Learning Through AI: What It Means for Women in Academia', Dr Yusuf Ibrahim of the Department of Computer Engineering argued that early decision shaped equity outcomes.
Dr Yusuf said Nigeria was drafting a National AI strategy to steer inclusive and ethical adoption at scale.
On her part, the founder, TechTank Labs, Surayya Ahmad, called on the empowerment and educating of women on how to use modern technology in order to bridge the digital divide in different communities.
Surayya said less than 40 percent of women in northern Nigeria used smart phones.
In a goodwill message, the Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof Maryam Aminu, noted that as a woman in leadership and a firm believer in the transformative power of education, she recognised that the future of higher education rested on their ability to embrace innovation, inclusivity and technology.
Prof Maryam also said AI was no longer just a tool of the future, as it was also today's reality, shaping research, teaching, governance and professional development.
She congratulated the organisers and wished them well.
In another goodwill message, the Director General, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Engineer Kabiru Muazu, stated that the theme of the workshop was relevant as the world continued to embrace AI as a driver of innovation, research and development.
Represented by the Head, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit of the Institute, Mrs. Florence O. Paul, the Director General said gender inclusion was not just a matter of equity, it was also a necessity for harnessing the full potential of AI to address societal challenges.
Engr Muazu said empowering women to take their rightful place in AI leadership and policy would enrich perspectives, expand opportunities and strengthen the foundation for sustainable growth in science, technology, and innovation.
Demonstrating the use of the IIOE platform, Dr Habiba Atta of the Department of Microbiology, encouraged women to embrace technology and register on the platform.
Dr Atta said the COVID-19 pandemic opened her eyes to different digital tools.
In a vote of thanks, the Head, Department of Computer Engineering, Dr Basira Yahaya, thanked all participants for attending the workshop.
Dr Basira charged the participants to join IIOE's forthcoming lecture series from now to December 2026.
A total of 926 participants attended the sensitisation workshop. The number is made up of 779 virtual and 147 physical.
At the end of the workshop, Engr Sandra Chioma Nwokoye from Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka was declared winner of the National Centre Competition with a cash prize of N500,000, while Dr Yusuf Zakari of the Department of Science Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, came second with a cash prize of N300,000.
And Abdulsalam B. Ibrahim of the University Health Services, Ahmadu Bello University came third with a cash prize of N200,000.
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